Washbasins



July 22, 1969 M. FLAGG 3,456,264

WASHBASINS Filed Aug 4. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M FLAGG WASHBASINS July22, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1966 F IG. 3.

United States Patent 3,456,264 WASHBASINS Michael Flagg, 4345 CaliforniaSt., San Francisco, Calif. 94118 Filed Aug. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 570,316Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 4, 1965, 33,443/ 65Int. Cl. A47k 1/04; E03c 1/32 U.S. Cl. 4-170 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to washbasins and has as an object toprovide a washbasin in a convenient form.

A washbasin in accordance with the invention comprises a support, abasin vertically movable relative to the support, means for locking thebasin to the support at a selected height and piping permitting suchmovement of the basin and arranged to be capable of carrying water toand from the basin.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 isa sectional view (combined with an hydraulic circuit diagram) of oneexample of a washbasin in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is asimilar view of a slightly modified form of the invention, FIGURE 3 is afront view (partially in section) of another modified form of theinvention, and FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a lockingdevice forming a part the example shown in FIGURE 3.

As shown in FIGURE 1 there is provided a ceramic washbasin 10 carried bya pedestal structure 11 mounting the washbasin for vertical movement.The basin 10 is the same in all of the modified constructions describedherein although many different types of basin may alternatively beemployed. The basin has taps or faucets 12 to which water is supplied bymeans of flexible pipes 13 coupled to outlets 14 on a wall adjacentwhich the pedestal 11 stands.

The basin 10 also has a conventional outlet 15 which can be blocked, inuse, by a plug (not shown). The outlet 15 is connected to a drainconnector 16 via a telescopic soil pipe 17. The inner tube 18- of thesoil pipe 17 depends from beneath the basin 10 and extends sealinglythrough a gland 19 at the upper end of the outer tube 20. The lower endof the tube 20 is coupled to a U-bend waste trap 21 connected to thedrain connector 16.

If desired the telescopic soil pipe 17 may be replaced by a flexiblepipe and, similarly, telescopic pipes could be employed instead of theflexible pipes 13. Where a flexible soil pipe is employed an S-bendwaste trap is used on the underside of the basin.

The top of the pedestal 11 incorporates a bracket 22. As shown inFIGURES 1 and 3 this bracket consists of a shallow U-shaped strap 23extending beneath and embracing the underside of the basin. Connected tothe respective ends of the strap 23 are a pair of straight strips 24which underlie the marginal portions of the basin. Pegs 25, 26 on thesestrips 24 enter holes (not shown) in the basin to locate it accuratelyin position on the bracket.

The U-shaped strap 23 of the bracket 22 is secured at its centre to acuboidal block 27 which is itself secured, as by welding, in one end ofa length of square-section tube 28. Tube 28 is a telescopic sliding fitwithin another length of square-section tube 29 upstanding on a plinth30. The tube 28 is a close fit within the tube 29 and the basin istherefore provided with a steady support even when the tube 28 is wellextended from the tube 29 to raise the basin to a high level.

The arrangements thus far described are common to the three modifiedforms of the invention shown in the drawings.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawings the telescopic pedestal 11 can be elongatedand raised by a hydraulic system. As shown there is a tube 31 attachedto the block 27 and extending coaxially with the tube 28. The tube 31 ispreferably of circular section and coacts with a piston 32 carried onthe end of a tubular stem 33 secured at its lower end to the plinth 3G.The piston 32 is slidingly engaged with the internal wall of the tube 31so that the piston 32, the tube 31, and the block 27 together form asealed chamber into which liquid under pressure can be introduced toraise the basin. The length of the stem 33 is such in relation to thelengths of the tubes 28, 29 and 31 that when the basin is raised so highthat piston 32 becomes disengaged from the tube 31 there is stillsufiicient interengagement of the tubes 28 and 29 to keep the basinsteady.

The space 34 between the tube 31 and the telescopic tubes 28, 29 is usedas a water reservoir for the hydraulic system. To this end a pair ofconnectors 35, 36 are secured to the tube 28 adjacent the block 27 andcommunicate with the interior of the telescopic tubes 28, 29. Theconnector 35 is used when it is required to refill or top up thereservoir 34. The other connector is used to draw water from thereservoir when it is required to raise the basin. A coiled flexible tube37 is coupled to the connector 36 and extends around the tube 31 down tothe bottom of the reservoir.

The hydraulic system makes use of a pump 38 with its inlet connected viaa nonreturn valve 39 to the connector 36. The outlet of the pump, whichmay be adapted for manual or pedal operation is connected via a secondnonreturn valve 40 to a connector 41 at the upper end of the tube 28.This connector communicates via bores 42 in the block 27 with theinterior of the tube 31 above the piston 32. Thus, when the pump 38 isoperated water will be drawn from the reservoir 34 and forced, underpressure into the upper end of the tube 31 and the basin will thus beraised. For lowering the basin a manual or pedal valve 43 connects theconnector 41 to the connector 36 thereby providing a suitably restrictedroute for water to return to the reservoir 34 as the basin sinks underthe influence of gravity.

Turning now to the modification shown in FIGURE 2, the hydraulic systemis considerably simplified by utilizmg mains water pressure to raise thebasin. In this care the space within the telescopic tubes 28, 29 is notre quired as a reservoir but requires drainage to prevent water whichescapes past the piston 32 from collecting. To this end a connector 44is attached to the lower end of the tube 29 and is permanently connectedto drain via a line 45. The raising and lowering of the basin iscontrolled by two valves 46 and 47. Valve 46 connects the connector 41to the water mains whilst valve 47 connects the connector 41 to the line45. The valves 46, 47 may, if desired, be ganged or interlocked so thatboth cannot be opened simultaneously. Water trapped in the upper part ofthe tube 31 maintains the basin at a given height when both valves 46,47 are closed. Opening of the valve 46 allows pressure water to enterthe tube 31 and raise the basin. Opening of the valve 47 allows water tobe drained from the tube 31 so that the basin sinks.

Turning now to FIGURES 3 and 4 the washbasin shown has a pedestal 11 asbefore. This may contain a hydraulic raising arrangement such as thatshown in FIGURE 2 or, alternatively, it may consist simply of the tubes28, 29. For the time being it will be assumed that the hydraulic systemis included but that the mains water pressure is insumcient to raise thebasin. To enable the basin to be raised more easily a counterbalancingsystem is employed.

The counterbalancing system makes use of a pair of gravity operatedpulley jacks 48. Each jack has a base 49 on which it stands. Upstandingon the base 49 is a tube 50 to which there is secured at its upper end,a cross head 51. The cross head 51 projects horizontally from oppositesides of the tube 51 and carries a pair of pulleys 52.

'Slidably engaged in a plunged hole 53 in the centre of the cross headis an elongated tube or rod element 54. Secured to the lower end of theelement 54 is a cup 55 which slides in the tube 50. The element 54 isthus constrained to longitudinal motion relative to the tube 50.

A cord 56 is engaged at its midpoint with the cup 55 and its ends extendrespectively over the two pulleys 52. The ends of the cord are doubledback through spaced holes in an annular trap 57 slidable on the tube 50.The ends of the cord are tied back by means of metal clinches 58.

The tray 57 carries an appropriate number of C-shaped weights 59 totension thecord sutficiently to tend to lift the tube 54.

The upper ends of the tubes 54 of the two jacks are provided with rubberor like caps 60. These caps 60 are respectively engaged under the strips24 of the bracket 22 and, thus, the jacks apply an upward force to thebasin.

Where no hydraulic system is employed for raising the basin somemechanical device for locking it in position is required. In the exampleshown in FIGURES 3 and 4 the locking device includes a plunger 61mounted for sliding movement in a cylindrical housing 62 secured to theupper end of the outer tube 29 of the telescopic pedestal. The plungeris urged by a spring 63 in the housing through a hole in the wall of thetube 29. The wall of tube 28 is formed with a series of longitudinalspaced holes 64 into which the plunger 61 is urged by the spring 63.

The plunger 61 can be withdrawn by means of a rotary knob 65 on the freeend of an elongated stem 66 extending at its other end into the housingand secured to a rotary cam member 67. Cam member 67 coacts with a fixedcam member 68, the members 67, 68 having interengaging inclined faces67a, 68a so that when the knob 65 is turned the plunger 61 is withdrawn.

When no hydraulic system is employed the counterbalancing mechanisms canbe adjusted (by addition or removal of weights 59) until the basin is sofinely counterbalanced that it will sink slowly when full of water andrise slowly when empty. Some manual assistance may be necessary toovercome friction but the efiort involved will be slight compared withthe Weight of the basin and its fittings.

With such an arrangement adjustment of the height of the basin wouldthen be effected by filling or emptying the basin as required and thenreleasing the locking device to allow the basin to fall or rise. Whenthe required height is obtained the lockingdevice is reengaged with theplunger 61 engaged in the most convenient one of the holes 64.

The invention is, of course, susceptible to many further modificationsand variations. For example, the basin 10 itself may be of lightweightform, e.g., a light gauge stainless steel pressing or a moulding ofsuitable synthetic resin material. In addition other methods of raisingand lowering, locking and counterbalancing the basin can be employed.

In any event the invention provides a basin which can be lowered to alow level for use by children, raised to the normal level for use byhealthy adults and raised to a high level for use by the aged or personssuffering from back complaints which make bending difficult or painful.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A washbasin comprising, in combination, a support constituted by anextensible pedestal having a plinth and a bracket vertically movablerelative to said plinth, a basin mounted on said bracket, hydraulicmeans for raising said basin, comprising a tube depending from saidbracket, a piston slidable in said tube and a stem upstanding on saidplinth and carrying said piston at its upper end, locking meanscomprising valve means for preventing escape of liquid from saidhydraulic means for locking the basin at any selected height, and pipingpermitting vertical movement of the basin and arranged to be capable ofcarrying water to and from the basin.

2. A washbasin as claimed in claim 1 in which the pedestal consists ofan outer tube carried by said plinth and upstanding therefrom and aninner tube extending downwardly from the bracket and being slidablyengaged in the outer tube, the arrangement being such that extension ofthe pedestal by the hydraulic means is limited to ensure that there issufficient interengagement of the inner and outer tubes to maintain thebasin steady.

3. A washbasin as claimed in claim 2 in which the length of said stem issuch that the piston becomes disengaged from the depending tube to limitextension of the pedestal.

4. A washbasin as claimed in claim 2 in which the outer tube of thepedestal acts as a reservoir for liquid for operating the hydraulicmeans.

5. A washbasin as claimed in claim 4 in which there is provided ahydraulic pump adapted to draw liquid from the reservoir and deliver itunder pressure to said depending tube to raise the basin and a valveadapted on opening to permit liquid to be displaced from the dependingtube into the reservoir as the basin sinks under the influence ofgravity.

6. A washbasin as claimed in claim 2 in which there is provided a firstvalve for supplying pressure water from a water main to the dependingtube and a second valve for controlling the flow of Water from thedepending tube to drain.

7. A washbasin comprising, in combination, a support, a basin verticallymovable relative to the support, means for locking the basin to thesupport at any selected height, piping permitting such movement of thebasin and arranged to be capable of carrying water to and from thebasin, and counterbalancing means permanently applying an upward forceto the basin so as to lessen the elfort required to raise it, saidcounterbalancing means comprising a pair of gravity operated jacksacting on opposite edges of the basin, each jack comprising a base, anupstanding tube on the base, means rotatably supporting a pair ofpulleys on opposite sides of the upstanding tube at the upper endthereof, an elongated element slidably guided by said upstanding tubefor vertical longitudinal movement and engageable at its upper end withthe basin, a cord passing over both of the pulleys, an annular tray towhich the cord has its ends attached, said tray encircling the tube, aweight supported by the tray, said cord being coupled to said elongatedelement to urge the latter upwardly.

8. A Washbasin comprising, in combination a pedestal comprising a pairof telescopically related tubes, a basin vertically movable relative tothe pedestal, piping permitting such movement of the basin, and arrangedto be capable of carrying water to and from the basin and a lockingdevice for locking the basin at a selected height, said locking devicecomprising a spring loaded plunger slidably mounted in a housing on theouter tube of said pedestal and urged into a selected one of a series oflongitudinally spaced holes in the inner tube, and an elongated stemactuable to withdraw said plunger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK D. LAWSON, PrimaryExaminer

